Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: toy

  • Toy Mountain

    Toy Mountain

    Toy Mountain is a beautifully coloured Picture Book from Stef Gemmill  that should hold the answer to all children’s dreams. At the end of the rainbow there is a toy factory where little hands make toys all day. Toys that “Rumbled, grumbled and plinked.”  For Sam, the toys he played with were all hand me downs from his grandmother; they were worn and faulty. He shared those toys with a younger brother.

    When his mother came home and asked Sam if he would like to be a tester for the toy factory it seems as though all his wishes had come true. However, there were to be consequences which no one could have foreseen. The motto, “Be careful what you wish for,” certainly applies here. The problems that arise are unforeseen and test Sam ‘s resolve.

    The illustrations from Katherine Hall are vibrant and add to the text in a humorous way. There are large and colourful pictures as well as small, detailed drawings which need close examination. The text is a good size for young readers, and the font is designed for easy reading. Many words such as “PLONK,” are written in a larger size for emphasis.

    While Sam is discovering his newfound toys, his younger brother is left out of the fun. His expressions show his feelings, creating a solid base for a discussion about sharing.  Toy Mountain is good book for all younger children.

  • Once I Was Loved

    Once I Was Loved

    Told through the eyes of a rather travel worn toy rabbit called Tock, found in the Charity box, Tock tells his story about all the people who once loved him, but have grown up and moved on with their lives.

    There was Sam, who named him Tock, and loved him through the years, sharing her sadness when her dad went to war, her happiness at birthdays; they did everything together until once day, Sam’s mum, who was a Nurse, took her to visit Flynn, who was very sick with polio.

    Sam felt Flynn needed Tock far more than she did, as when she gave him Tock, he smiled and began to get better. They shared adventures until Flynn was strong enough to go home. When the celebrations for Victory Day where being held Tock slipped from Flynn’s hands, flying off the balcony and down into the crowd.

    Over many, many years Tock found his way into so many small hands and new homes, each one crammed with new adventures until he found himself discarded, left in the Charity Box, sad, forlorn and homeless until………

    Once, I Was Loved is set gracefully set against the background of history spaning almost ninety years, from the beginning of the Second World War, to the lunar landing and then into the internet age of today, where toys are left on the shelf in pursuit of the instant pleasure of the internet.

    As the story evolves there are many discussion points to have with children such as what polio was, war, the first lunar landing, and the Rock and Roll craze, all important aspects of the years long gone.

    Charming and crammed full of love, Belinda Landsbury’s beguiling illustrations along with the gentle storyline have created a book to be treasured and one that will leave a happy little tear in the eye at the end of the story.